“It’s pretty hard to argue we haven’t created a job-creating machine in the state of Texas, and I think that’s what people are looking for,’’ Perry told reporters while campaigning in Iowa.
GOP voters have taken notice: A national Gallup poll suggests Perry leads the field of Republican presidential hopefuls with support from 29 percent of primary voters, well ahead of second-place Mitt Romney, at 17 percent. Those numbers are backed up by two other recent national polls.
Perry, as the new front-runner, and his record on jobs will be targeted by opponents from both parties looking to blunt his momentum.
During his more than 10 years in the governor’s office, Perry has occasionally taken stands that seem to conflict with his promises to rein in the influence of government and keep it out of private enterprise. One example is his use of tax breaks and other carrots to lure business to Texas.
His sharp tongue and fiery partisanship could alienate some independent voters: He has attacked Social Security as a Ponzi scheme; said Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke would be acting in a “treasonous’’ manner if he further eases monetary policy; mused about Texas seceding from the union; and questioned the science behind evolution and climate change.
Through the Republican Governors Association, Perry signed a letter in April in support of the GOP budget proposal forged by the chairman of the House Budget Committee, Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin. The Ryan budget was one of the most controversial bills approved this year by the GOP-controlled US House. Under the plan, seniors would no longer get blanket coverage from Medicare but would receive vouchers from Washington to buy insurance from private companies.
Political analysts and Perry’s critics say the details behind the Texas job numbers paint a more complicated picture of the state’s economy - and Perry’s role in supporting it.
